Street Photography: Interview with Justin Vogel

[jan normandale]

This man's one of my contacts and I just came across his interview on shooting "street". He's got some good ideas and some controversial. He also shoots film and uses an M2 which he does for reasons that might resonate for some and for others he may be less than 'respectful'


Justin Vogel interview

 

[Ducky]

Interesting read. The guy makes some good points but I will have to look through more of his work to make a judgement. The examples in the link were average to my eye.
Thanks, Jan.

 

[fireblade]

he speaks the truth about sp.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Thanks for the link. I liked the interview; Justin's love of the excitement of photographing on the streets comes through so clearly. Inspirational. And now I've got the "HCSP" flickr group on my late-night viewing list. 🙂

 

[robert blu]

Thanks Jan for this link. I did not yet read all the interview (which I'll do asap) but gave a quick look and was caught by this sentence from Justin :" ...without an emotional closeness it is hard to create an interesting photograph." which, in my opinion applies to all photography.
robert

 

[MCTuomey]

thanks, jan. good read. fwiw, i like taking pictures of buskers. oh well.

 

[Pancake]

Great read thanks dude for the link

 

[jan normandale]

glad everyone enjoyed the read. Not your average or sterotypical SP photographer. Some of his work, actually a lot of his work is up there with today's best IMO.

 

[jsrockit]

Thanks Jan for this link. I did not yet read all the interview (which I'll do asap) but gave a quick look and was caught by this sentence from Justin :" ...without an emotional closeness it is hard to create an interesting photograph." which, in my opinion applies to all photography.
robert

I just can't agree with that quote... too many absolutes are thrown around this forum and/or with regard to street photograhy in general. I'm not saying that your opinion is wrong... you like what you like. However, the history of photography has shown us that there is no one set way of doing things and that great photos can be made of anything...with or without emotional closeness.

 

[The Meaness]

Loved the articles and pics - thanks. New contact for me, and I learned a lot.

 

[robert blu]

I just can't agree with that quote... too many absolutes are thrown around this forum and/or with regard to street photograhy in general. I'm not saying that your opinion is wrong... you like what you like. However, the history of photography has shown us that there is no one set way of doing things and that great photos can be made of anything...with or without emotional closeness.

Interesting comment, thank. I don't see it as an absolute sentence and I agree with what you say, too many absolutes thrown around. And one of the nice things in photography is the possibility to see and/or practice it in different way without the need of a "correct" way. What I think is that when someone press the shutter, or look for a better framing, or... it's because more or less something is interesting him and this interest in an human being will produce some kind of emotion. But maybe this is just me ! Cheers
robert

 

[JayM]

I like his photos and think flickr culture is interesting. I don't know a whole lot about the flickr group he's talking about but it seems like the opportunity to have a lot of people on the internet tell you what they think about your photos is a good way to learn how to make photos that those people will approve of.

Thanks!

 

[Out to Lunch]

Many thanks for sharing. And I luv the pictures.

 

[jan normandale]

SP rules, regs, opinons...

SP rules, regs, opinons...

I just can't agree with that quote... too many absolutes are thrown around this forum and/or with regard to street photograhy in general. I'm not saying that your opinion is wrong... you like what you like. However, the history of photography has shown us that there is no one set way of doing things and that great photos can be made of anything...with or without emotional closeness.

JS.. it's an interview with an interesting and capable street photographer.. not much more. I think history has shown all sorts of people and styles work as you point out. Justin's just giving his methodology. Like lots of people when he speaks it's about his personal experience and style. He just believes you need a 'closeness to his subjects'. Alternatively you can emulate Cartier Bresson and be totally detached... we all understand difference. It's what makes life interesting.

Here's a link to Cartier Bresson in action.. enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqsOYsZlPX4&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL1C30A9045DC3F5CE

 

[claacct]

His like the typical photographer that you meet on the street and curse yourself why you got him started talking.

 

[celluloidprop]

There's good and bad there. The third photo, the homeless man on the sidewalk strikes me as having some of the worst elements of street photography. The shot tells you nothing about that man's story, or the city's story - just that he's some poor schlep passed out on the street. We're looking, literally, from above onto him.
Vogel didn't get close enough there.

I contrast that with one of my favorite photographs ever, from Eugene Richards's 'Americans We,' there's a homeless man on a filthy mattress clutching his dog to his chest like the mutt is the last good thing on Earth. Which, for that guy, it might be. Richards, of course, gets in close, his connection to the man and the situation is palpable.

Vogel also gets it right - he's clearly engaged with the man in the second photo, and it's a much stronger shot for that.